Simple electronic file system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a copying or facsimile machine with an optical disk device (10) having a light detecting unit (130) for converting an optical image of a document into digital image information; an image storing unit (135) for storing the digital image information converted from the light detecting unit; a printer (140); an optical disk unit (150) for recording the digital image information in the optical disk contained in the replaceable optical disk cartridge in the unit of page; and a selection unit (136) for selecting whether the digital image information will be printed by the printer or not, and whether the digital image information be recorded by the optical disk unit or not; and a reproduction only optical disk device (30) having a selection unit (344) for selecting one of the pages recorded in the optical disk in the optical disk cartridge to be reproduced; an optical disk unit (322-340) for reading the digital image information of the page selected by the selection unit; and an image storing unit (350) for storing the digital image information read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display unit (312) for displaying the image information stored in the image storing unit. The copying machine with an optical disk device records in the optical disk the image information of the document in the unit of page, and the reproduction only optical disk device reproduces the image information recorded in the optical disk in the unit of page.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a simple electronic file system for storingdocuments readily in optical disks.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, copying machines are at hand in every office, and necessarydocuments can be readily copied. Resultantly, offices are full of largevolumes of copies, which causes troubles, In order to solve thetroubles. efficient storage of the copies is sought. Furthermore, it hascome even to the paperless system being proposed so as to expel papersout of offices. On the other hand, volumes of information are on steadyincrease. Access to large volumes of information is necessary forbusiness.

Thus it is contradictorily required that large volumes of informationare necessary for business, while increases of their documents must beavoided as much as possible for office environments.

One of the means for storing documents in optical disks is theelectronic file system. The storage of documents in optical disks by theelectronic file system can contribute to space savings.

But the conventional electronic file system requires a considerablycumbersome electronic file unit, and requires complicatedregistration/retrieval keys for storing documents, and full timeoperators. When a document stored in an optical disk is required, aninput is made by keys in accordance with a complicatedregistration/retrieval key system to read the document, which needs fulltime operator' assistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a simple electronic filesystem which can record/store documents without using complicatedregistration/retrieval keys, and reproduce readily the stored documents.

The simple electronic file system according to this invention comprisesa copying machine with an optical disk device including a lightdetecting unit for converting an optical image of a document intodigital image information, an image storing unit for storing the digitalimage information converted from the optical image by the lightdetecting unit, a printer unit for printing the digital imageinformation on a paper, an optical disk unit for recording the digitalimage information recorded in the optical disk contained in areplaceable (portable) optical disk cartridge, and a selection unit forselecting whether the digital image information is printed by theprinter unit or not, and whether the digital image information isrecorded by the optical disk unit or not; and a reproduction onlyoptical disk including a selection unit for selecting one of the pagesrecorded in the optical disk in the optical cartridge to be reproduced,an optical disk unit for reading from the optical disk the digital imageinformation of the page selected by the seelection unit, an imagestoring unit for storing the digital image information read by theoptical disk, and a flat display unit for displaying the digital imageinformation stored in the image storing unit.

This invention, which has the above-described structure, makes itpossible to record image information of a document in an optical disk inunits of pages by the copying machine with an optical disk device andreproduce in units as pages the image information recorded in theoptical disk by the reproduction only optical disk device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an example of the simple electronic file systemaccording to a first embodiment of this invention, which is used in anoffice;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of recording, storage, reproduction and erasionof the simple electronic file system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views of the retrieval of the simpleelectronic file system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first example of the copying machinewith an optical disk device in the simple electronic file system of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 including FIGS. 6A, 6B are block diagrams of the copying machinewith an optical disk device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plane view of data input keys for the copying machine withan optical disk of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 including FIGS. 8A, 8B are block diagrams of a second example ofthe copying machine with an optical disk device used in the simpleelectronic file system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 including FIGS. 9A, 9B are block diagrams of a third example ofthe copying machine with an optical device used in the simple electronicfile system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a structural view of a fourth example of the copying machinewith an optical disk device used in the simple electronic file system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 11 including FIGS. 11A, 11B are block diagrams of the copyingmachine with an optical disk device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fifth example of the copying machine with an optical diskdevice used in the simple electronic file system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an appearance of a reproduction onlyoptical disk device used in the simple electronic file system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the reproduction only optical disk deviceof FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view of the simple electronic file system according to asecond embodiment of this invention, which is used in a study;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of recording, storage, reproduction and erasionof the simple electronic file system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an appearance of the optical diskdevice with an image scanner used in the simple electronic file systemof FIG. 15; and;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the optical disk device with an imagescanner of FIG. 17.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1. A First Embodiment

The electronic file system according to a first embodiment of thisinvention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

1.1 Summary of the Simple Electronic File System

1.1 Summary of the Simple Electronic File System

FIG. 1 shows an example of the layout of the simple electronic filesystem suitably used in an office.

The electronic file system of the office includes one copying machinewith an optical disk device having an optical disk device for recordinga document in an optical disk and erasing the optical disk, and aplurality of reproduction only optical disk devices 30 for reproducingthe document recorded in the optical disk. The copying machine with anoptical disk device 10 is used commonly by all the office members.Respective office members operate the copying machine with an opticaldevice 10 when they wish to record a document. The structure of thecopying machine with an optical device 10 will be explained below indetail. The copying machine with an optical device 10 can be operated inthe same way as a document is copied, so as to record a document in anoptical disk.

The reproduction only optical devices 30 are placed on the desks of therespective office members. They can operate their own devices 30 to seethe contents of the documents recorded in optical disks in the same wayas they look at usual files. If extra ones of the reproduction onlyoptical devices 30 are placed in office members' houses, they will beable to do their jobs at home simply by taking the optical disks home.

The flow of recording, storing, reproducing and erasing a document bythe simple electronic file system according to this embodiment will beexplained with reference to FIG. 2.

A characteristic of the simple electronic file system according to thisembodiment is that a document is exchanged off-line, using a compactoptical disk.

A document 2 to be recorded is recorded in an optical disk 5 by thecopying machine with an optical device 10. At this time a hard copy 6may be produced as required. An optical disk cartridge 4 containing anoptical disk 5 with the document recorded in it is kept on a desk orshelf in the usual way. Thus the optical disk takes much less space thanpaper copies and is free from worries about storage spaces. The opticaldisk 5 which has a capacity equivalent to about 1000-2000 A4 sheets isequal to the volume of one usual paper file. One optical disk cartridge4 can be used as one file.

The retrieving process involved in the simple electronic file systemaccording to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2and 4.

In the simple electronic file system according to this embodiment, whena document is recorded in an optical disk, the recording takes place inthe sequential order of the pages in the unit of page. Management dataof FIG. 3 is recorded in a preset region of the optical disk as amanagement data region. The management data contains the disk name DNindicating the general name of the documents recorded in the opticaldisk, the page addresses PA where the images of the respective pages arerecorded, and the titles TL of the respective pages. Each page addressPA contains a track number TN and a sector number SN where theassociated image is recorded. The disk name DN and the title TL areinputted by an operator when a document is recorded in the optical disk,but they do not have to be essentially recorded, because they are forthe operator's memoranda to be used when he reproduces the document. Ifthe title TL is recorded, it is recorded in a title column on the firstpage of plural pages of the document. The page addresses PA areautomatically recorded by the copying machine with an optical diskdevice 10 when the document is recorded. It is possible that themanagement data contains a data and time when the document is recorded.

When the optical disk with the management data as shown in FIG. 3recorded in it is reproduced, first the management data is read, and asshown in FIG. 4, "the disk name", "titles" and "page numbers" aredisplayed. That is, the disk name is displayed at the upper portion ofthe displayed image, and below the disk name are sequentially displayedthe "title" and "page numbers" as in contents of ordinary books. Lookingat this display, the operator designates a necessary page number on thedisplay and reproduces the necessary page.

In the conventional electronic file system, since one optical disk canrecord a large volume of documents, complicated registration/retrievalkeys are used. In this embodiment, however, as described above. oneoptical disk has a capacity of about 1000-2000 A4 sheets. This smallcapacity yields a characteristic of this invention that the datamanagement is based on page numbers, and the titles are used asauxiliary means for the data management.

When a recorded document is erased to record a different document, onlythe management data region is rewritten without erasing the image dataof the recorded document, and the image data of the different documentto be recorded is written in addition to the recorded image data. Thus arewrite of a document can be optical in a short period of time.

1.2 Copying Machine with an Optical Disk Device

FIGS. 5-7 show a first example of the copying machine with an opticaldisk device used in the simple electronic file system according to thisembodiment. The copying machine with an optical disk device according tothis example comprises the so-called digital copying machine forconverting an image signal into a digital signal, and an optical diskdevice.

As shown in FIG. 5, the optical disk device according to this examplecomprises, as an ordinary digital copying machine does, a body 110, anoriginal table 112 provided on the body 110 for mounting an original tobe copied, and an original cover 114 for pressing the original on theoriginal table 112. Cassettes 116 containing copy papers are loaded inthe right side of the body 110, and on the left side of the body 110 isprovided a copy receiving tray 118 for receiving copies.

In the right side of the body 110 above the cassettes 116 there isprovided a cartridge receiving opening 120 at which an optical diskcartridge 4 is loaded in the body 110. A push button 121 is pushed toeject the loaded cartridge 4.

On the foreground of the original table 112, on the top surface of thebody 110, there are provided a power switch 122 and a menu panel 124 forselecting the operations of an ordinary copying machine and those of anordinary optical disk.

The copying machine with an optical disk device according to thisexample will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6, 6A,6B.

A light detecting unit 130 converts the image of a document 2 to becopied on the original table 112 into digital image information. Alinear sensor 131 reads the image of the document 2 and is movedoperatively over the entire surface of the document 2. A preamplifier133 amplifies an image signal from the linear sensor 131. The amplifiedanalog image signal is converted into a digital image signal.

The digital image information of the document 2 converted by the lightdetection unit 130 is stored in an image memory 135. A selection unit136 selects whether the digital image information stored in the imagememory 135 is printed (1) on a copy paper, (2) on an optical disk or (3)both on a copy paper and an optical disk. This selection is executed bythe paper/disk selecting switch 137 on the menu panel 124.

A laser printer unit 140 prints the digital image information on a copypaper. A laser scanning unit 141 causes a laser beam to scan with variedintensities a photosensitive drum 142 on rotation so as to form on thephotosensitive drum 142 a shade image corresponding to the digital imageinformation outputted by the selection unit 136. The shade image formedon the photosensitive drum 142 is transferred onto a paper. The printedpaper are discharged onto the copy receiving tray 118.

The optical disk device 150 records the digital image information in theoptical disk 5. The optical disk 5 is contained in the cartridge 4. Whenthe cartridge 4 is loaded through the cartridge receiving opening 120,the optical disk 5 is mounted on a motor 153, concurrently with themagnetic field generating coil 154 coming down to a set position of thecartridge 4.

A motor driving unit 155 drives and controls a motor 153 to rotate theoptical disk 5 at a required rotation number. A coil driving unit 156drives a magnetic field generating coil 154 to generate a requiredmagnetic field.

The digital image information outputted by the selection unit 136 to theoptical disk device 150 is data-compressed by a data compression unit157 for recording. The data compression is conducted by, e.g., modifiedREAD (modified relative element address designate), an internationalfacsimile standard. The modified READ is detailed in Reference: R.Hunter, A. H. Robinson: International digital facsimile codingstandards, Proc. IEEE, vol. 68, No. 7, pp. 854-867 (July, 1980).

The data-compressed image information is processed, e.g. amplified, bythe signal processing circuit 158 for recording in the optical disk 5.The signal-processed image information is recorded in the optical diskby the optical head 159. The optical head 159 is driven and controlledto select a track and drive without a focussing error, tracking error,etc., and the image data is recorded in the optical head 5.

A control unit 161 controls the motor driving unit 155, the coil drivingunit 156 and the optical head driving unit 160 so that the imageinformation is recorded at a required track of the optical disk. In thisembodiment, image information is written in the optical disk in units ofpages, and the first image of each document to be copied is recorded asPage 1 followed by the successive pages. In other words, this embodimentis free from complicated code inputs required by the conventional imagefile and records images simply in sequential order.

But, at this time, if necessary, the abovedescribed management data canbe inputted in the management data region of the optical disk by datainput keys 168. That is, when a fresh optical disk is used, a disk nameDN is inputted, and a title TL is inputted every time a document isrecorded. The contents inputted by the data input keys 168 are displayedby the display unit 163, so that the operator can input data, checkingthe contents.

One example of the data input keys 168 is shown in FIG. 7. This exampleis a simplified one with a smaller number of keys. Data keys are locatedat the central portion of the data input keys 168. The data keys includeEnglish letter keys from A to Z, and a space key. A part of the Englishletter keys can be shifted to figure keys from 0 to 9 and mark keys,such as "-", ".", ",", "/", "*", "#", etc. On the left side of the datainput keys 168 there are located control keys, such as an Englishletter/Kana (one Japanese script)/figure shift key, a C (one letterclear) key, an AC (all letters clear) key. On the right side of the datainput keys 168 are located a left scroll key, a right scroll key, anon-transform key (for transforming Hiragana's to Chinese letters), atransform/next-transform key, and a SET key.

The English letter/Kana/figure shift key selects one key input mode outof English letter input mode, Kana input via Romanized Japanese lettermode and figure input mode. this English letter/Kana/figure shift keyhas successfully saved a number of keys.

The C (one letter clear) key is for correcting an inputted letter. Alast inputted letter is deleted by one.

The AC (all letters clear) key deletes all the inputted letters. Afterthe deletion, an operator resumes an input operation from the start.

The left and the right scroll keys are for scrolling the display of aninputted disk name and titles right and left.

The non-transform and the transform/next transform keys control theHiragana (one Japanese script)--Chinese letter transform in inputtingKana input via Romanized Japanese letters.

The SET key is for registering inputted letter lines.

By operating this data input keys 168, an operator can not only inputEnglish letters, figures and marks, and Hiragana and Kana via RomanizedJapanese letters, but also input Chinese letters by transformingHiragana and Kana inputted via Romanized Japanese letters to Chineseletters.

The control unit 161 has a page number counter 162 for indicating whatthe ordinal number of page of the optical disk image informationcurrently being recorded is. This page number counter 162 counts upevery time image information is recorded in the optical disk 5. Acontent of the page number counter 162 is shown by an indicator 163 ofthe operation panel 124.

A management data generating unit 169 generates management data in theformat of FIG. 3, based on input contents from the data input keys 168,page addresses PA from the control unit 161, and a page number from thepage number counter 162. This management data is processed by the signalprocessing circuit 158 to be recorded in the management data region ofthe optical disk 5.

When the cartridge is loaded, the management data written in the presetmanagement data region of the optical disk 5 is read, and a last pagenumber read from the management data is stored in the page numbercounter 162. But when the optical disk 5 has no more empty area, theindicator 163 indicates such.

The optical disk device 150 according to this example can record imageinformation in the optical disk 5 and erase the recorded imageinformation to initialize the optical disk. This recording and erasionare selected by operating the record/erase selecting switch 164 on theoperation panel 124.

The operation of this example will be explained below.

Operation of Paper Copy Mode

When the paper copy mode for reproduction on a paper is selected by thepaper-disk selecting switch 137, the selection unit 136 does not outputthe digital image information to the optical disk device 150 but to thelaser printer unit 140. The document 2 to be copied is placed on theoriginal table 112, and the copy switch (not shown) is pushed. Then theimage information is reproduced on a paper by the laser printer unit 140as does an ordinary copying machine.

Operation of Disk Memory Mode

When the disk record mode for recording image information in the opticaldisk is selected by the paper/disk selection switch 137, and besides therecord mode is selected by the record/erase selection switch 164, theselection unit 136 does not output the digital image information to thelaser printer 140 but to the optical disk device 150.

Before the document 2 to be copied is placed on the original table 112,a cartridge is loaded through the cartridge receiving opening 120. Thenthe optical disk 5 is mounted on the motor 153, and the optical disk 5is rotated up to a required rotation number. When the rotation number ofthe optical disk reaches the required number, the optical head 159 readsthe contents of a control track, and a last page number being currentlyrecorded is counted by the page number counter 162.

When a document 2 to be copied is placed on the original table 112, theindicator 163 makes an indication that the operator input the title TLof the document. The operator inputs the title TL as required by usingthe data input keys 168. After the title has been inputted, a copyswitch is (not shown) pushed. Then the image information is read by thelight detecting unit to be converted into digital image information. Thedigital image information is stored in the image memory 135. Theselection unit 130 outputs the digital image information only to theoptical disk device 150 as described above. This digital imageinformation is data-compressed by the data compression unit 157 and isfurther signal-processed by the signal processing circuit 158 to beoutputted to the optical head 159.

The control unit 161 instructs to the head driving unit 160 a track anda sector next to the one where a last page is recorded. Based on thisinstruction, the optical head 159 moves the optical head 159 so as to bepositioned on the track where the image information is to be recorded,while recording a title TL and a page address at a required position ofthe management data region. When this recording is completed, thecontrol unit 161 adds 1 to the page number counter 162 to be ready for anext recording.

Operation of Paper Copy/Disk Record Mode

When the paper copy/disk record mode for reproducing image data on apaper and recording the same in the optical disk is selected by thepaper/disk selecting switch 137, the selection unit 136 outputs thedigital image information both to the laser printer 140 and to theoptical disk device 150.

In this mode, the operations of the above-described paper copy mode andthe above-described disk recording mode take place simultaneously.

Operation of Disk Initialization Mode

When the disk record mode for recording image information in the opticaldisk is selected by the paper/disk selecting switch 137, and besides theerasion mode is selected by the record/erase selecting switch 164, thecontrol unit 161 controls the coil driving unit 156 and the optical headdriving unit 160 so as to initialize the optical disk 5. In theinitialization, erasion is conducted sequentially on all the tracks oneby one. It is possible that the indicator unit 163 indicates aninitialization is on. Information (e.g., "0") indicating no informationis recorded in control tracks of the optical disk 5.

Since this copying machine with an optical disk device enables thecontents of a document to be recorded readily in an optical disk in thesame way as does an ordinary copying machine, it is suitable to be usedas a topical disk recording device in the simple electronic file system.Since a document can be not only copied but also recorded in an opticaldisk, although filing is necessary, information which is not presentlynecessary is stored in an optical disk, consequently with a result thatinformation can be accumulated without papers flooding offices. Sincethe copying machine with an optical disk device according to thisexample can record and erase information, optical disks which storeunnecessary information can be initialized to economically be used asfresh ones.

1.3 Copying Machine with an Optical Disk Device (a Second Example)

FIGS. 8, 8A, and 8B show a second example of the copying machine with anoptical disk device. The constituent members of FIGS. 5-7 common withthe first example have common reference numerals not to repeat theirexplanations.

This example also comprises a digital copying machine with an opticaldisk and differs from the first example in that in this example imageinformation recorded in an optical disk is read to be printed on papers.

The optical disk device according to this example can record imageinformation in an optical disk and erase, and also can reproduce theimage information. Recording, erasion and reproduction are selected by arecord/erase/reproduce selecting switch 165 on an operation panel 124.In a reproduction, the management data of an optical disk 5 is read tobe displayed in a display unit 163. A page number to be reproduced isdesignated by figure keys or a secret key of data input keys 168 on theoperation panel 124.

Image information read from the optical disk by an optical head 159 isgiven a required signal processing by a signal processing circuit 158.Then the image signal is data-developed by a data-developing unit 167 tobe stored in an image memory 135. The image information stored in theimage memory 135 is printed on papers by a laser printing unit 140.

This example further includes a flat display 170. This flat display 170is for displaying the image information stored in the image memory 135.The flat display 170 is connected to the image memory 135 through animage display 171 and every image information stored in the image memory135 is displayed. It is possible to dispose a switch on the flat display170 for selecting whether or not the image information stored in theimage memory 135 is displayed.

The flat display 170 may be disposed at any position of the copyingmachine with an optical disk device, e.g., on an original cover 114, aside of a body 110 or operation panel 124.

The flat display 170 may be any means, such as a liquid crystal displaypanel, an EL display panel, a plasma display panel or others.

In printing management data on papers by a laser printer unit 140 or indislaying the management data on the flat display 170, the managementdata, which is recorded in letter codes, is read to be converted intoimage information by a data developing unit 167, using letter patternsfrom a letter pattern generating unit 166, and stored in the imagememory 135.

In this copying machine with an optical disk device, since the contentsof the image memory 135 can be displayed on the flat display 170, theimage from the light detecting unit 130 is checked beforehand on theflat display 170 to thereby avoid recording of a poor input image. Inreproducing the optical disk 5, it is also possible to avoid wastefulhard copies by checking the reproduced image before printing the same onpapers.

1.4 Copying Machine with Optical Disk Device (a Third Example)

FIGS. 9, 9A, and 9B show a third example of the copying machine with anoptical disk device. The constituent members common with the first andthe second examples have common reference numerals not to repeat theirexplanations.

In this example, an image of a document to be copied is projecteddirectly on a photosensitive drum. This example comprises the so-calledanalog copying machine, and an optical disk device.

The copying machine with an optical device according to this example isbasically an analog copying machine. A document 2 to be copied on anoriginal table 112 is copied by a copying unit 180. The document 2 isirradiated by a light source 181. Its reflected image forms on thesurface of a photosensitive drum 187 through an optical systemcomprising mirrors 182, 183, 184, 186, 185. That is, the reflected lighton the document 2 is reflected by the mirror 182 moved together with thelight source 181 to have the optical path bent by the mirrors 183, 184to be led to the mirror 185. The reflected image converged by the lens185 is led by the mirror 186 to the photosensitive drum 187. A shadeimage is formed in accordance with the reflected image on thephotosensitive drum 142, and this shade image is transferred onto papersby the usual method. The papers with the shade image transferred theretoare conveyed by a conveyor belt 188 to be fixed in a fixing unit 189 tobe discharged onto a copy receiving tray 118.

In this example, the mirror 186 comprises a half mirror so as to allowpart of the reflected image to pass and be detected by a linear sensor131 of a light detecting unit 130. A characteristic of this example isthat the linear sensor 131 is inserted in the optical path of the analogcopying unit 180. The image detected by the light detecting unit 130 isstored in an image memory 135.

A selection unit 136 is connected to a shutter 195 through a shutterdriving unit 196. The shutter 195 is disposed between the half mirror186 and the photosensitive drum 187 for shielding the reflected image tothe photosensitive drum 187 in accordance with whether or not toreproduce the image on papers. The shutter 187 may be an electricallyclosable shutter, such as liquid crystal or the like, or a mechanicallyclosable shutter. Instead of disposing the shutter for shielding thereflected light, an optical image is formed on the photosensitive drumbut is not reproduced on papers.

The operation of this example will be explained below.

Operation of Paper Copy Mode

When a paper copy mode for reproduction an image on papers is selectedby a paper/disk selecting switch 137, the selection unit 136 opens theshutter 195 so as to pass the image light, while supplying aninstruction to reproduce the image to the control unit (not shown) ofthe copying unit 180. A document 2 to be copied is placed on theoriginal table 112, and then a copy switch (not shown) is pushed. Thenthe image is reproduced on a paper as is in an ordinary copying machine.

Operation of Disk Record Mode

When a disk record mode for recording an image on an optical disk isselected by a paper/disk selecting switch 137, and besides record modeis selected by a record/erase/reproduce selecting switch 165, theselection unit 136 outputs digital image information to the optical diskdevice 150. At the same time, the selection unit 136 closes the shutter195 so as not to form the image on the photosensitive drum 187, while itdoes not output an instruction to reproduce the image to the controlunit (not shown) of the copying unit 180.

The recording on an optical disk is the same as in the first and thesecond examples, and its explanation is omitted.

Operation of Paper Copy/Disk Record Mode

When paper copy/disk record mode for reproducing an image on a paper andrecording the image on an optical disk is selected by the paper/diskselecting switch 137, the selection unit 136 opens the shutter 195,while outputting digital image information to the optical disk device150.

In this mode, the above-described paper copy mode and the disk recordmode are simultaneously performed.

Thus, the copying machine according to this example, which is an analogcopying machine, can record image information on an optical disk as doesa digital copying machine.

1.5 Copying Machine with an Optical Disk Device (a Fourth Example)

FIGS. 10, 11, 11A, and 11B show a fourth example of the copying machinewith an optical disk device.

The copying machine with an optical disk device according to a fourthexample comprises a copying machine 210, and an optical disk device 230attached to a side of the copying machine 210.

According to this example, the optical disk device 230 is attached tothe analog copying machine 210, but the copying machine 210 may be ananalog or a digital one as long as it is usually used.

An original table 212 for a document to be placed on is disposed on thetop of this analog copying machine 210. There is provided an originalcover 214 for pressing the document.

The document 2 to be copied on the original table 212 is irradiated by alight source 216, and its reflected image is formed on the surface of aphotosensitive drum 222 by an optical system comprising mirrors 217,218, 219, 220, and lens 221. That is, the image light of the document 2to be copied reflected by the mirror 217 moved together with the lightsource 216 has the optical path bent by the mirrors 218, 219 to be ledto the lens 221. The image light converged by the lens 221 is led by themirror 220 to the photosensitive drum 222. A shade image is formed onthe photosensitive drum in accordance with the image light. This shadeimage is transferred by the usual method onto a paper taken out of acassette 223. The paper with the image transferred thereto is conveyedby a conveyor belt 224 to a fixing unit 226 for fixing and aredischarged onto a copy receiving tray 228.

The optical disk device 230 is attached to the left side of the copyingmachine 210. In the left side of the optical disk device 230 there isformed a cartridge receiving opening 231 through which an optical diskcartridge 4 is inserted. A push button (not shown) is pushed to ejectthe cartridge 4.

A linear sensor 233 for inputting the image of the document 2 isattached to the copying machine 210 immediately above a copy dischargeopening 229 through which copies are discharged onto the copy receivingtray 228. This linear sensor 233 reads the image reproduced on a paper,and the read signal is supplied to the optical disk device 230 to beprocessed as will be described below.

In this example, the linear sensor 233 is attached to the copyingmachine 210 immediately above the copy discharge opening 229 but it maybe disposed anywhere as long as an image reproduced on a paper by thecopying machine can be optically detected.

An operation panel 234 for operating the optical disk device 230 isdisposed on the top of the optical disk device 230.

The copying machine with an optical disk device according to thisexample will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 11 whichis a functional block diagram of this example. Common members with thefirst to the third examples of FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 have common referencenumerals not to repeat their explanations.

An image read by the linear sensor 233, which reads the image reproducedon a discharged paper, is converted into a digital image signal by thelight detection unit 130 and outputted to an image judging unit 245.

The image judging unit 245 judges a start of an image signal of a paper,based on a digital image signal converted by the light detecting unit130. For example, when a digital signal becomes a value above a setvalue which is indicative of whiteness of a paper, the image judgingunit 245 judges a paper has been discharged through the copy dischargeopening 229 and causes an image memory 135 to store a digital signaloutputted by the light detecting unit 130.

The optical disk unit 230 records the digital image information on anoptical disk. The optical disk is contained in a cartridge. When acartridge 4 is inserted through the cartridge receiving opening 231, theoptical disk is rotated by a motor 153, and an optical head 159 recordsand reproduces data, and a magnetic field generating coil 154 erasesdata.

Image information read from the optical disk 5 by the optical head 154is stored in the image memory 246 via a signal processing circuit 158and a data developing unit 167. The image information is displayed by aflat display 235 which is controlled by a display control unit 171, sothat the image information recorded in the optical disk 5 can bereproduced on the flat display 235.

In this example, the flat display 235 is disposed below the optical diskdevice 230 as shown in FIG. 10 but may be disposed anywhere. The flatdisplay 235 may comprise any means, e.g., a liquid crystal panel, ELdisplay panel, plasma display panel or others.

Next the operation of the disk record mode of this example will beexplained,

First, a cartridge 4 is inserted through the cartridge receiving opening231 before a document 2 to be copied is set on the original table 212.Then the optical disk 5 is mounted on a motor 153 and rotated. When theoptical disk 5 reaches a set rotation number, contents of a managementdata region are read, and a last recorded page number is set in a pagenumber counter 162. After the last page number has been set, the opticaldisk device 23 stands by until a reproduced paper comes out of the copydischarge opening 229.

When a copy switch (not shown) of the copying machine 210 is pushed withthe document 2 to be copied placed on the original table 212, theoptical image of the document 2 is read and reproduced on a paper. Whenthe paper with the reproduced image is discharged out of the copydischarge opening 229, the image judging unit 245 detects the dischargeof the paper, and reads and converts the optical image into digitalimage information. The digital image information is stored in the imagememory 135. This digital image information is outputted to the opticalhead 159 via the data compression unit 157 and the signal processingcircuit 158 to be recorded in a recording region next to the last pagenumber. When the recording is over, the control unit 161 writes themanagement data of this page number in a management data region whilecausing the counter 162 to count up by 1, and is ready for a nextrecording.

1.6 Copying Machine with an Optical Disk Device (a Fifth Example)

FIG. 12 shows a copying machine with an optical device according to afifth example of this invention. Common members with the first to thefourth examples have common reference numerals not to repeat theirexplanations.

In the fourth example the image of a document to be copied is read froma paper with the reproduced image so as to minimize modification of thecopying machine 210, while in this example, however, the image of adocument to be copied is read from the optical system of the copyingmachine. This is a difference of the fifth example from the fourth one.

That is, the copying machine 210 is modified so that one 225 of mirrorsof an optical system built in the copying machine 210 comprises a halfmirror, and a linear sensor 233 is positioned so as to detect lightspassing the half mirror 225.

Thus in this example, the linear sensor 233 is attached to the opticalsystem of the copying machine to take out the optical image of adocument to be copied. This makes it possible to obtain a clearer imagecompared with that read from a reproduced paper.

1.7 Reproduction Only Optical Disk Device

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an example of the reproduction only optical diskdevice used in the simple electronic file system according to thisembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, the reproduction only optical disk device has aflat display 312 for image display disposed on the top of a body 310.The flat display 312 comprises a liquid crystal panel, EL display panel,plasma display panel, etc.

A cartridge receiving opening 314 is formed in the right side of thebody 310. An optical disk cartridge 4 is inserted through the cartridgereceiving opening 314. A push button 315 is pushed to eject thecartridge 4.

The optical disk used in the simple electric file system according tothis embodiment is an erasable rewritable optical disk, but it ispreferable to make reproduction only optical disks, such as CD, CD-ROM,LD, etc., and direct read after write optical disks, which make a oncerecorded document permanent, reproducing so as to increase reproducingsoftware.

An operation panel 318 for operating this reproduction only optical diskdevice is provided on this side of the flat display 312. At the centerof the operation panel 318 there are provided ten keys which are used todesignate a page number to be reproduced. A display 322 provided on theright side of the ten keys 320 is used to display the management data ofan optical disk, a designated page number, or the page number of areproduced image. A search key 324 is provided on this side of thedisplay 322. This search key 324 is used to search the page number of adocument to be reproduced. A translation key 326 and a zoom key 328 areprovided on the left side of the ten keys 320. The reproduction onlyoptical disk device according to this example can enlarge or diminish apart of a reproduced image. The zoom key 328 is used to change amagnification for enlarging or diminishing an image. The translation key326 is used to designate the position of a part to be enlarged ordiminished.

The reproduction only optical disk according to this example will beexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 14.

An optical disk 5 is contained in a cartridge 4. The cartridge 4 isinserted through the cartridge receiving opening 314. Then the opticaldisk 5 is mounted on the motor 332. A motor driving unit 334 controlsand drives the motor 332 to rotate the optical disk at a set rotationnumber.

Image information recorded in the optical disk 5 is read by an opticalhead 336. The optical head 336 is driven by a head driving unit 338 toselect a track, and is controlled to read the image information with nofocussing error, tracking error, etc.

A control unit 340 controls the motor driving unit 334 and the headdriving unit 338 so that the image information on a required track ofthe optical disk 5. The image information of the optical disk 5 to bereproduced is processed in units of pages.

A page number counter 324 is provided in the control unit 340 forindicating an ordinal number of a page the image information on which iscurrently being reproduced. The page number counter 342 stores the pagenumber currently being reproduced. Contents of the page number counter342 are displayed on the display 322 of the operation panel 318.

A page number to be reproduced is designated by the ten keys 320 and thesearch key 324. A page number searching unit 344 gives the control unitan instruction of a page number of the optical disk 5 to be reproduced.This instructed page number is also set in the page number counter 342to be displayed on the display 322.

Digital image information read by the optical head 336 is given arequired signal processing such as an amplification processing by thesignal processing circuit 346, and is outputted to the data-developingunit 348. When the image information is recorded in the optical disk 5,the digital image information is data-developed by the data-developingunit 348 to be stored in the image memory 350 since the imageinformation is data-compressed by, e.g., modified READ, an internationalfacsimile standard.

A display operation unit 352 controls the display on the flat display312. Usually the image information stored in the image memory 350 isdisplayed as it is, but when the zoom key 328 is given an instruction, apart pointed by the translation key 326 is displayed enlarged ordiminished.

The management data of the image information recorded in the opticaldisk 5 are recorded in the management data region of the optical disk 5.The management data of the optical disk 5 is read when the cartridge 4is mounted. The read management data is converted by a data developingunit 348 into image information in letter patterns supplied by theletter pattern generating unit 349 to be stored in an image memory 350and displayed on the flat display 312.

A printer 360 is connected to the body 310 as required to make a hardcopy of the image information currently displayed on the flat display312. The printer may comprise one that is usually used as a terminaldevice of a personal computer or a facsimile, which is widely used.

The operation of this example will be explained below.

A cartridge 4 containing an optical disk 4 to be reproduced is insertedthrough the cartridge receiving opening 314. The optical disk 5 used inthis example has image information recorded in units of pages in thesequential order of pages. The optical disk 5 has a disk name DL andtitles T of the respective documents recorded in the management dataregion, and the cartridge 4 has the disk name DL indicated on theoutside thereof, whereby the cartridge 4 containing the optical disk 5can be handled like a usual file or a book.

When the cartridge 4 is inserted, the optical disk 5 is mounted on themotor 332 and starts to be rotated. When the optical disk 5 reaches arequired rotation number, the optical head 336 reads the management datain the management data region, and the disk name, titles of thedocuments and page numbers are displayed on the flat display 332. Fromthis displayed management data, an operator can see the contents of theoptical disks 5.

Looking at the contents of the optical disk 5 displayed on the flatdisplay 332, the operator points to a page number of the document hewants by the ten keys 320. Then the head driving unit 338 drives theoptical head 336 to read the pointed page number. When the pointed pagenumber is larger than a last recorded page number, the display 322displays to the effect. Then the optical head 336 reads the imageinformation of the pointed page number, and then the image memory 350stores the read image information via the signal processing unit 346 andthe data developing unit 348. The stored image information is displayedon the flat display 131.

When the operator wants to see pages preceding or following the pointedpage number, the search key 324 is used to advance or retreat the pagenumber to display the images thereof.

When the image of the pointed page number is displayed, the zoom key 328or the translation key 326 are used as required to enlarge or diminish apart of the image. When the operator wants a hard copy of the image, theprinter 360 is connected to print the image on a paper.

When the operator finishes the operation, he pushes the button 315 bythe cartridge receiving opening 314 to eject the cartridge 4.

Thus the reproduction only optical disk device can very readilyreproduce the image information recorded in an optical disk and alsomake hard copies thereof as required. This optical device has onlyminimum necessary functions, and thus its price can be kept lowest.

It is possible to separate the display device (not shown) having theflat display 312 and the operation panel 318, and a reproducing unit(not shown) for reproducing an optical disk 5 from each other andinstead connect both by a line. For example, the reproducing device isbuilt in a work desk (not shown) and a connector for connection to thedisplay device is provided on the work desk, and the display device isconnected to the connector as required to reproduce images. This canmuch contribute to the paperless system in offices.

It is also possible that one reproducing device is connected to aplurality of display devices. For example, respective desks in aconference room have their own display devices thereon, whereby aconference will be smoothly advanced.

2. Second Embodiment

The simple electronic file system according to a second embodiment ofthis invention will be explained with reference to drawings.

2.1 Summary of the Simple Electronic File System

In the first embodiment this invention is adapted to an office. But inthis embodiment this invention is adapted to personal lives.

FIG. 15 shows an example of studies for which the simple electronic filesystem according to this embodiment is adapted to.

The simple electronic file system used in this study comprises anoptical disk device with an image scanner 40 for recording a document inan optical disk and erasing all the recorded documents in the opticaldisk, and a reproduction only optical disk device 30 for reproducing thedocuments recorded in the optical disk. The optical disk device with animage scanner 40 is placed on a shelf by a wall of the study, and thereproduction only optical disk device 30 is placed on a desk in thestudy. A telephone/facsimile device 50 is placed by the reproductiononly optical disk device 30 on the desk. This facsimile device 50functions as a printer which makes a hard copy of a document reproducedby the reproduction only optical disk 30.

The flow of the recording, storing and reproduction of a document by thesimple electronic file system according to this embodiment will beexplained with reference to FIG. 16.

Documents to be recorded on personal levels, e.g., albums, letters,clips of newspapers, etc., are recorded in optical disks by the opticaldisk device with an image scanner 40. The recorded optical disks arekept, e.g., on book shelves. The optical disks are reproduced by thereproduction only optical disk device 30 to see the recorded documents.Optical disks to be reproduced are those recorded personally by theoptical disk device with an image scanner 40 and optical disks whichhave been taken home for jobs, books published in optical disks, etc.When a reproduced document has to be printed, the facsimile device 50 isconnected to the reproduction only optical disk device 30 to make a hardcopy of the document.

For the retrieval for the simple electronic file system according tothis embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a document is recorded inthe unit of page, and auxiliary information, such as a disk name DN,titles TL, etc. is used,

2.2 Optical Disk Device with an Image Scanner

An example of the optical disk device with an image scanner used in thesimple electronic file system according to this embodiment will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 17, the optical disk device with an image scanneraccording to this example comprises. as does a usual image scanner, anoriginal table 412 for a document to be placed on disposed on the top ofa body 410, and a original cover 414 for pressing an original.

A cartridge receiving opening 420 is formed in the right side of thebody 410. A cartridge 4 for an optical disk is inserted thorough thecartridge receiving opening 420. A push button 421 is pushed to ejectthe cartridge 4.

The body 410 has an operation panel 424 for the usual operations of theimage scanner and the optical disk disposed on this side of the originaltable 412 on the top of the body.

FIG. 18 shows the details of the optical disk device with an imagescanner according to this example. Common members with the copyingmachine with an optical disk device according to the first embodiment ofFIG. 6 have common reference numerals not to repeat their explanations.

As shown in FIG. 18, the optical disk device with an image scanneraccording to this example has the same structure as the copying machinewith an optical disk device of FIG. 6 without the laser printer unit140. That is, a document on the original table 412 is converted intodigital image information by a light detecting unit 130 to be stored inan image memory 135. A linear sensor 131 is operated in the scanningdirection indicated by the arrow in FIG. 17 to read the document.

An optical disk device 150 records the digital image information storedin the image memory 135 in an optical disk 5 or erases all the recordedimage information of the optical disk 5 as required.

The digital image information read from the image memory 135 by theoptical disk device 150 is data-compressed by a data compression unit157, e.g., is data-compressed by the modified READ, internationalfacsimile standards to be recorded in the optical disk 5.

The optical disk device 150 has the same structure as that of FIG. 6,and it is not explained.

A flat display (not shown) may be provided so that the image informationrecorded in the optical disk 5 is read by the optical disk device 150and displayed. In this case, a page number to be reproduced isdesignated by a page number to be reproduced designating unit providedon the operation panel 124. Then the image information is read from theoptical disk 5 and is subjected to a required signal processing and datadevelopment to be stored in the image memory 135. The flat dislay may beany display means, such as a liquid crystal panel, EL display panel,plasma display panel, or others.

The operation of this example will be explained below.

Operation of Disk Record Mode

This operation is for the record mode selected by a recording/erasionselecting switch 164.

Before a document 2 to be inputted is set on the original desk 412, acartridge 122 is inserted through a cartridge receiving opening 420.Then an optical disk 5 is mounted on a motor 153, and the optical disk 5increases its rotation number up to a set rotation number. When theoptical disk 5 reaches the set rotation number, an optical head 159reads contents of a management data region, and a last page numbercurrently being recorded is set in a page number counter 162.

With the document 2 placed on the original table 412, a start switch(not shown) is pushed. Then the image information is read by the lightdetection unit to be converted into digital image information. Theconverted image information is stored in the image memory 135. Thisimage information is data-compressed by the data-compression unit 157,and further signal-processed by the signal processing circuit 158 to besupplied to the optical head 159.

A control unit 161 gives a head driving unit 160 an instruction of atrack number TN and a sector number SN corresponding to a page next tothe last page number stored in the page number counter 162. Based onthis instruction, the head driving unit 160 drives the optical head 159so that the optical head 159 is positioned at the track and the sectorwhere the image information is to be recorded and records the imageinformation. When the recording is over, the control unit 161 increasesa page number of the page number counter 162 by 1, while writing titlesTL and page addresses PA in the management data region.

Operation of Disk Initialization Mode

When erasion mode is selected by the recording/erasion selecting switch164, the control unit 161 controls a coil driving unit 156 and the headdriving unit 160 to initialize the optical disk 5. In the initializationall the tracks of the optical disk 5 are erased sequentially one by one.It is possible to display to the effect during an initialization.

3. A Modification

This invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments butcovers various modifications.

In the above-described embodiment, the simple electronic file systemcomprises a copying machine with an optical disk device, and areproduction only optical disk device but may further comprise anoptical disk device with an image scanner for the optical diskrecording. The second embodiment may further comprise a copying machinewith an optical disk.

In the above-described embodiments, erasable magneto-optical disks areused, but similarly erasable phase changeable optical disks may be used.Direct read after write optical disks, which are not erasable and storeonce recorded information permanently. The direct read after writeoptical disks can store information recorded on papers compactly as doesthe conventional microfilm.

In the above-described embodiments, for the retrieval, disk names anddocument titles are used as an assistance to the page-unit retrieval. Inorder to further simplify the electronic file system according to thisinvention, it is possible to use only page numbers for retrieval.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the simple electronic file system according to this invention, anoptical disk cartridge has a capacity substantially corresponding to ausual paper file volume, and the retrieval is conducted in units ofpages. This makes it possible to simplify recording of a document inoptical disks and retrieval of the document therefrom, and in addition,the optical disk cartridge can be handled in the same way as usualfiles. Accordingly, this simple electronic file system is usable as aready file system suitably used in offices and at home.

I claim:
 1. A simple electronic file system comprising:a copying machinewith an optical disk device having a light detecting unit for convertingan optical image of a document into digital image information; an imagestoring unit for storing the digital image information converted fromthe light detecting unit; a printer unit for printing the digital imageinformation on paper; an optical disk unit for recording the digitalimage information in an optical disk contained in a replaceable opticaldisk cartridge in units of pages, wherein the optical disk unit of thecopying machine with an optical disk device erases the informationrecorded in the optical disk; and a selection unit for selecting whetherthe digital image information will be printed by the printer unit ornot, and whether the digital image information will be recorded by theoptical disk unit or not; and a reproduction only optical disk devicehaving a selection unit for selecting one of the pages recorded in theoptical disk in the optical disk cartridge to be reproduced; an opticaldisk unit for reading the digital image information of the page selectedby the selection unit; an image storing unit for storing the digitalimage information read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display unitfor displaying the image information stored in the image storing unit,the copying machine with the optical disk device recording in theoptical disk the image information of the document in units of pages,and the reproduction only optical disk device reproducing the imageinformation recorded in the optical disk in units of pages.
 2. A simpleelectronic file system comprising:a copying machine with an optical diskdevice having a copying unit having an optical system for forming anoptical image of a document and reproducing the formed optical image onpaper; a light detecting unit for taking out the optical image of thedocument from the optical system of the copying unit and converting theoptical image into digital image information; an image storing unit forstoring the digital image information converted by the light detectingunit; an optical disk unit for recording the digital image informationin units of pages in an optical disk contained in a replaceable opticaldisk cartridge, wherein the optical disk unit of the copying machinewith an optical disk device erases the information recorded in theoptical disk; and a selection unit for selecting whether the digitalimage information will be reproduced by the copying unit or recorded bythe optical disk unit; and a reproduction only optical disk devicehaving a selection unit for selecting one of the pages recorded in theoptical disk in the cartridge to be reproduced; an optical disk unit forreading the digital image information of the page selected by theselection unit from the optical disk; an image storing unit for storingthe digital image information read by the optical disk unit; and a flatdisplay unit for displaying the image stored in the image storing unit,the copying machine with the optical disk device recording in theoptical disk the image information of the document in units of pages,and the reproduction only optical disk device reproducing the imageinformation recorded in the optical disk in units of pages.
 3. A simpleelectronic file system comprising:a copying machine having an opticalsystem for forming an optical image of a document and reproducing theformed optical image on paper; an optical disk device mountable on thecopying machine having a light detecting unit for converting the opticalimage of the document into digital image information and having a lightsensor attached to the copying machine for optically detecting thereproduced image; an image storing unit for storing the digital imageinformation converted by the light detecting unit; and a disk unit forrecording the digital image information in units of pages in an opticaldisk contained in a replaceable optical disk cartridge, wherein the diskunit of the optical disk device erases the information recorded in theoptical disk; and a reproduction only optical disk device having aselection unit for selecting one of the pages recorded in the opticaldisk in the cartridge to be reproduced; an optical disk unit for readingthe digital image information of the page selected by the selection unitfrom the optical disk; an image storing unit for storing the digitalimage information read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display unitfor displaying the image information stored in the image storing unit,the optical disk device recording in the optical disk the imageinformation of the document in units of pages, and the reproduction onlyoptical disk device reproducing the image information recorded in theoptical disk in units of pages.
 4. A simple electronic file systemcomprising:an optical disk device with an image scanner having a lightdetecting unit for converting an optical image of a document intodigital image information; an image storing unit for storing the digitalimage information converted by the light detecting unit; and an opticaldisk device for recording the digital image information in units ofpages in an optical disk contained in a replaceable optical diskcartridge, wherein the optical disk unit of the optical disk device withan image scanner erases the information recorded in the optical disk;and a reproduction only optical disk device having a selection unit forselecting one of the pages recorded in the optical disk in the cartridgeto be reproduced; an optical disk unit for reading the digital imageinformation of the page selected by the selection unit from the opticaldisk; an image storing unit for storing the digital image informationread by the optical disk unit; and a flat display unit for displayingthe image information stored in the image storing unit, the optical diskdevice with the image scanner recording the image information of thedocument in the optical disk in units of pages, and the reproductiononly optical disk device reproducing the image information recorded inthe optical disk in units of pages.
 5. A simple electronic file systemcomprising:an optical disk device with an image scanner having a lightdetecting unit for converting an optical image of a document intodigital image information; an image storing unit for storing the digitalimage information converted by the light detecting unit; and an opticaldisk device for recording the digital image information in units ofpages in an optical disk contained in a replaceable optical diskcartridge; a reproduction only optical disk device having a selectionunit for selecting one of the pages recorded in the optical disk in thecartridge to be reproduced; an optical disk unit for reading the digitalimage information of the page selected by the selection unit from theoptical disk; an image storing unit for storing the digital imageinformation read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display unit fordisplaying the image information stored in the image storing unit; and afacsimile device for printing the digital image information stored inthe image storing unit of the reproduction only optical disk device; theoptical disk device with the image scanner recording the imageinformation of the document in the optical disk in units of pages, andthe reproduction only optical disk device reproducing the imageinformation recorded in the optical disk in units of pages.
 6. A simpleelectronic file system comprising:a copying machine with an optical diskdevice having a light detecting unit for converting an optical image ofa document into digital image information; an image memory unit forstoring the digital image information converted from the light detectingunit; an optical disk unit for recording the digital image informationin an optical disk contained in a replaceable optical disk cartridge inunits of pages and for erasing the information recorded in the opticaldisk; a selection unit for selecting whether the digital imageinformation will be printed by a printer unit or recorded by the opticaldisk unit; and a display for displaying the image information stored bythe image memory unit; and a reproduction only optical disk devicehaving a selection unit for selecting one of the pages recorded in theoptical disk in the optical disk cartridge to be reproduced; an opticaldisk unit for reading the digital image information of the page selectedby the selection unit; an image memory for storing the digital imageinformation read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display fordisplaying the image information stored by the image storing unit, thecopying machine with an optical disk device recording in the opticaldisk the image information of the document in units of pages, and thereproduction only optical disk device reproducing the image informationrecorded in the optical disk in units of pages.
 7. A simple electronicfile system comprising:a copying machine with an optical disk devicehaving a copying unit having an optical system for forming an opticalimage of a document and reproducing the formed optical image on paper; alight detecting unit for taking out the optical image of the documentfrom the optical system of the copying unit and converting the opticalimage into digital image information; an image memory unit for storingthe digital image information converted by the light detecting unit; anoptical disk unit for recording the digital image information in unitsof pages in an optical disk contained in a replaceable optical diskcartridge and for erasing the information recorded in the optical disk;a selection unit for selecting whether the digital image informationwill be reproduced by the copying unit or recorded by the optical diskunit; and a display for displaying the image information stored by theimage memory unit; and a reproduction only optical disk device having aselection unit for selecting one of the pages recorded in the opticaldisk in the cartridge to be reproduced; an optical disk unit for readingthe digital image information of the page selected by the selection unitfrom the optical disk; an image memory for storing the digital imageinformation read by the optical disk unit; and a flat display fordisplaying the image information stored by the image memory unit, thecopying machine with an optical disk device recording in the opticaldisk the image information of the document in units of pages, and thereproduction only optical disk device reproducing the image informationrecorded in the optical disk in units of pages.
 8. A simple electronicfile system comprising:a copying machine having an optical system forforming an optical image of a document and reproducing the formedoptical image on paper; a copying machine adaptable optical disk devicehaving a light detecting unit for converting the optical image of thedocument into digital image information and having a light sensorattached to the copying machine for optically detecting the reproducedimage; an image memory unit for storing the digital image informationconverted by the light detecting unit; a disk unit for recording thedigital image information in units of pages in an optical disk containedin a replaceable optical disk cartridge and for erasing the informationrecorded in the optical disk; and a display unit for displaying theimage information stored by the image memory unit; and a reproductiononly optical disk device having a selection unit for selecting one ofthe pages recorded in the optical disk in the cartridge to bereproduced; an optical disk unit for reading the digital imageinformation of the page selected by the selection unit from the opticaldisk; an image memory for storing the digital image information read bythe optical disk unit; and a flat display for displaying the imageinformation stored by the image memory unit, the copying machineadaptable optical disk device recording in the optical disk the imageinformation of the document in units of pages, and the reproduction onlyoptical disk device reproducing the image information recorded in theoptical disk in units of pages.
 9. A simple electronic file systemaccording to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6-8, wherein the opticaldisk has a management data region where management data is recorded, themanagement data having a disk name which is the name of the opticaldisk, document titles which represent the contents of the documents, andpage addresses which indicate the positions of the pages where thedocuments are recorded; and, in recording, the management data as wellis recorded in the optical disk and, in reproduction, a page to bereproduced is designated based on the management data.